keeping batteries in good condition

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Wed 10 Jul 2019 15:08
keeping batteries in good condition - concrete

I have a Bailley caravan which has a leisure battery for various uses when no mains electricity is available. During a conversation someone mentioned that when not in use for long periods, which is the case, batteries should be connected to a special charge unit which keeps the voltage topped up. Seems like sense to me but I don't know where to start. If any one can help. I have a 110 amp leisure and marine battery and would like to find out which charger until I should buy and connect to it. Also if I wanted to use the charger on other, fairly new vehicles it must be able to accommodate the canbus electrical system on modern cars. Any information and suggestion are welcome.

Cheers Concrete

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Wed 10 Jul 2019 16:46
keeping batteries in good condition - Andrew-T

If this is a 'normal' 12-volt battery, surely a 'normal' trickle-charger would be OK? It's the voltage from the charger that matters?

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Wed 10 Jul 2019 17:57
keeping batteries in good condition - skidpan

In the late 80's I bought a Gunsons charger for the Caterham. It stands over the winter and the Torque Starter batteries used by Caterham at the time were notorious for going bottoms up if the car was not used regularly. The charger has several setting on one of which is Ppermanent Float" and its intended for leisure batteries, gold cart batteries etc. Can be left on in that setting 24/7 with no worries of gassing etc.

Mine still works fine 30 years on.

Think the C-Tek brand is the current market leader for such chargers.

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Wed 10 Jul 2019 18:43
keeping batteries in good condition - daveyjp
If you watch Harrys Garage on youtube he's another C-tek fan.

Some charge constantly which is just as bad for batteries as they can dry out.

C-tek cycle so will charge for a few days then turn off to allow the battery to 'rest' then recharge as the voltage drops.

www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-10-Automatic-Recondition...1
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Thu 11 Jul 2019 08:54
keeping batteries in good condition - concrete

Thank you chaos for your advice. I shall look into the C-Tek range. It sounds like just the ticket. Many thanks.

Cheers Concrete

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Thu 11 Jul 2019 10:43
keeping batteries in good condition - Andrew-T

Thank you chaos for your advice. I shall look into the C-Tek range.

I guess you meant 'chaps' ? :-)

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Sat 13 Jul 2019 09:19
keeping batteries in good condition - concrete

Thank you chaos for your advice. I shall look into the C-Tek range.

I guess you meant 'chaps' ? :-)

I did indeed Andrew. Silly me. Predictive text has crept in!!

In answer to your question; the battery is a 12 volt and the caravan mains charger keeps the voltage meter at about 13.5V. I have looked at C-Tek and Promate ranges and will decide which to purchase. As long as they can accommodate the canbus systems.

Cheers Concrete

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Sat 13 Jul 2019 11:39
keeping batteries in good condition - John F

Can't see why you need a special charger with bells and whistles. Assuming it spends most of its life disconnected, why not just give it a few hours a month on a bog standard charger?

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